“In 803 Harun al-Rashid murdered his vizier, Ja'far the Barmecide, and ordered the destruction of this powerful vizierial family.”

“The grand vizier was sent for by the sultan, dismissed, and bowstrung the next day.”

“He came to Egypt in 1168 as an assistant to his uncle, who was a general and then became the vizier of the last Fatimid caliph.”

“During his vizierate the Ottoman Empire regained some of its former prestige and vitality.”

“The rents that ought to be paid to the Vizier of the Empire he gave to the vizierate.”

“She also points out that the absence of maxims regarding the vizierate, the highest office in the land, make it unlikely that the author was a vizier.”

“These letters displayed so much linguistic and calligraphic skill that the vizir Ibn-Alarif became anxious to know the writer.”

“Shortly after, the vizir himself was conducted to the Seven Towers.”

“For257 a Mahometan who chose a vizir ruled, but did not govern.”

“Hence many Ottoman viziers were of non-Turkish ethnic origin, including Greeks, Albanians, and even Italians.”

“Thus empowered, they came to play a vital role in the new polity and culture, serving as viziers and military commanders.”

“Coordination between the different viziers and communication between the sovereign and the vizierates required a new official.”